why does devin brown wear 33

Devin Brown, the Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback, wears jersey number 33 to honor Sammy Baugh, the NFL legend known as "Slingin' Sammy." Baugh was the first quarterback inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963 after starring at TCU and with the Washington Redskins.

The Inspiration Behind #33

Brown switched from No. 15 to No. 33 during Ohio State's 2023 spring practices, calling it "the original quarterback number." This choice stems from childhood stories his father shared about Baugh, a versatile star who threw for 21,886 yards and played from 1937-1952. Brown wore 33 in youth football until high school, when a senior took it, forcing the change to 15.

"The reason behind it was Sammy Baugh... That's the original quarterback number, in my opinion. I want to rock the original quarterback number." – Devin Brown

Ohio State coach Ryan Day initially thought of Larry Bird but supported it after hearing the family history, noting Brown's confidence.

Family Roots and Early Days

• Brown's dad introduced him to Baugh's legacy young; he first wore 33 at age 7 and stuck with it through youth leagues.
• In high school at Corner Canyon (Utah), he reverted only when necessary, reclaiming it at OSU to "blaze his own path."

• Baugh even ties to Brown's Cotton Bowl spotlight in 2023—Baugh was MVP of the first Cotton Bowl in 1937.

Fan and Forum Reactions

The unconventional QB number (typically 1-19) sparked buzz:

• Reddit r/CFB (2023) : "Seeing a QB wearing anything over 19 is…weird" (295 upvotes), but others praised the Sammy nod or shared similar stories (e.g., QBs in 20s/90s).

• Eleven Warriors Forum : Defenders called it "kinda neat," dismissing snarky jersey-number gripes as irrelevant to talent.

• Social media mixed amusement (Larry Bird jokes) with respect for the homage.

Viewpoint| Example Reaction| Context
---|---|---
Skeptical| "QBs should stick to 1-19"| Tradition-focused fans 9
Supportive| "Love crazy college numbers"| Appreciation for uniqueness 9
Humorous| "General Booty should wear 69"| Light forum trolling 9

Brown wore it through the 2023 Cotton Bowl start vs. Missouri, proving NCAA rules allow it (just a position "recommendation").

TL;DR : A heartfelt tribute to a QB pioneer, rooted in family lore—still turning heads three years later.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.